Strip feeding and bursting apparatus



n- 1, 1 57 c. H. DIETZ ET AL 2,

STRIP FEEDING AND BURSTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1954 '4 Sheets-Sheetl IN VEN TORS (WA/Hi5 /7( D/[TZ BY P061597 l1. SIM 67 v a 2 WQ WW 1957c. H. DIETZ ET AL 2,776,007

STRIP FEEDING AND BURSTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1854 I 4Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS (WA/P15 S H. 0/5 72 Arron/V575 Jan. 1, 1957c. H. D lETZ ET AL STRIP FEEDING AND BURSTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed 001,. 11, 1954 United States Patent STRIP FEEDING AND BURSTINGAPPARATUS Charles H. Dietz and Robert W. Staneck, Dayton, Ohio,assignors to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio- Application October 11, 1954, Serial No; 461,452

12 Claims. (Cl. 164-845) This invention relates to strip feeding and:severing or bursting apparatus.

More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus of the type havingmeans for advancing a strip of continuous series connected printedforms, cards or lengths through a several or bursting station whereinthe strip is severed at longitudinally spaced intervals into theseparate forms, cards or lengths.

Heretoforc apparatus has been employed for advancing a strip ofcontinuous series connected printed business or other data receivingforms or cards all of equal length past a severing or bursting stationwherein the forms or cards are each severed from the strip duringasingle feeding cycle of the strip. An example of the apparatus referredto is disclosed in United States Letters Patent to J. T. Davidson, No.2,380,949, August 7, 1-945".

Apparatus of the type shown in said Patent 2,380,949 includes means forfeeding the strip from a supplysource between cooperating snubbingrollers. The feeding means may be of a positive character such as thepin- Wheel arrangement that cooperates with predetermined'lylongitudinally spaced openings in the side margins of the strip. Thestrip passes from between the snubbing rollers between cooperatingsnatching or bursting'rollers spaced therefrom in the direction oftravel of the" strip. The strip of predetermined longitudinally spacedlocations is provided with transverse weakened division lines definingthe separate cards of equal length. The cooperating snubbing rollers andthe cooperating snatching rollers include upper and lower snubbingrollers andupper' and lower snatching rollers. The upper rollers are onfixed axes while the lower rollers are on axes mounted" in common rockerarms. The lower snubbing and snatching or bursting rollersintermittently and automatically are moved relatively toward and fromtheir cooperating upper rollers by the rocking of the rocker arms so asto intermittently grip the strip therebetween and at such time thesnatching or bursting rollers are rotated at an accelerated ratecompared to the rate of rotation of'the snubbing rollers. The snatchingrollers gripthe leading form or card adjacent its leading end while thesnubbing rollers grip the following card orform' adjacent its leadingend. Consequently a. longitudinal pulling strain or tension is exertedupon the strip by the snatching or bursting rollers and the result isthat the leading card or form is severed from the strip at the.transverse weakened division line between it and the next following cardor form. The previous apparatus functions to sever cards or forms ofequal length from the strip, one at a time, during each feeding cycle ofthev strip.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the typereferred to which is capable of severing" or bursting from the advancingstrip during each feeding cycle thereof two uniform length or twonon-uniform length portions of the strip.

A further object is to provide an apparatus. of the type referredto'which. is capable of. severingior bursting from the advancing stripalternately a. long length strip ice portion and a shorter length stripportion during each feeding cycle.

Still more specifically an object is to provide an apparatus of the typereferred to which is capable of operating upon a continuous seriesconnected strip composed of card or form portions separatedlongitudinally by interconnecting dividing or spacing portions ofcomparatively short length and equivalent toa line of single spacing intypewriters or tabulat'ors, with the apparatus functioningintermittently and alternatively to burst or sever the card portionsandthe dividing portions from the strip and then sequentially todepositand stack the severed card or form portionsin a suitable receptacletherefor and deliver the separated dividing portions into a differentreceptacle.

A further object is to provide in apparatus of the type referred to inthe preceding object's means which can be readily varied to adapt theapparatus to function in eachfeeding cycle either to burst or severtherefrom two portions of uniform length or to burst or sever therefromtwo portions of differentlengths;

Another object is to provide an apparatus as referred to in the lastnamed object and wherein the said means is so located and so constructedas to be readily accessible for quickly varying the same or forchangeover without requiring the disassembly of the apparatus andWithout requiring special tools or skill.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a burstingapparatus which is readily adapted for multipurpose operation, such asthe severing or bursting from the continuous strip of portions ofuniform length or the severing or bursting therefrom alternatively ofpottions of two different lengths.

Another general: object is to provide a severing or bursting apparatuswhich is an improvement over the prior apparatus of this type both as toits construction and mode of operation and which may be economicallymanufactured, is of simple design requiring relatively few operatingparts and which can function throughout long periods of use without muchmaintenance care and Without the likelihood of requiring repairoperations thereon.

Further and: additional objects and advantages not hereinbeforespecified will become apparent during the detailed description ofanembodiment of the invention which is to follow and which embodiment isillustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification and wherein,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an apparatus embodying theinvention and illustrating the feeding and bursting mechanism of theapparatus in the interim period between bursting or severing operationsand while the strip or web is being freely advanced and the lowersnubbing rollers and the lower snatching rollers are separated or spacedfrom their upper cooperating rollers; the apparatus housing and otherparts being omitted from this view for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of'that portion of theapparatus at the right hand side of Fig. 1 with the side plates of theapparatus omitted, said Fig. 2 supplementing'the disclosure of Fig. 1with respect to the right hand" side of the apparatus as viewed in Fig.1 and showing the receptacle for sequentially receiving and stacking thesevered cards or forms and the different receptacle or tray forreceiving the dividing portions of the strip that are located betweenthe cards or forms.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary partial plan and partial sectional view of theapparatus and is taken approximately along line 33 of Fig. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary plan view' of the continuous seriesconnectedstrip showing-the cards orformsthereof which are interconnectedby the overlapped shorter dividing portions of the strip, the strip alsohaving the longitudinal marginal or side edge feeding portions providedwith the longitudinally spaced openings for the pins of the pinwheelfeeding mechanism and which marginal feeding portions are severed fromthe strip prior to the bursting operation.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view somewhat similar to Fig. 1 butshowing the relationship of the parts when the apparatus is acting uponthe strip to sever or burst the leading dividing portion from the strip,said view being taken approximately along irregular line 5-5 of Fig. 3looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an exploded elevational view of the cam assembly for timingthe bursting or severing operations of the apparatus so as to severalternately the short dividing portions and then the longer cardportions of the strip; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of Fig. 5 andillustrates the action of the apparatus immediately following thesevering or bursting from the strip of the leading dividing portionwhich has connected in spaced relationship the previously severed orbursted card or form portion and the following card or form por tion,the upper and lower snubbing rollers and the upper and lower snatchingor bursting rollers still being in contact.

The apparatus illustrated and described herein and embodying the presentinvention is similar in its general aspects to the apparatus disclosedin said Davidson Patent 2,380,949 and hence the disclosure of certainparts which are common to both apparatus have been omitted herefrom forthe sake of brevity.

The bursting apparatus embodying the present invention is adapted to besupported in elevated position on a table or stand or other suitablesupport and as in said Patent 2,380,949 comprises a base (not shownherein) which supports upright spaced side plates, one of which isindicated at 10 in Fig. 3. The side plates 10 may be interconnected bysuitable tie rods as will be well understood. As in said Patent2,380,949, the driving gear trains for the apparatus are located outsideof the side plates and may be enclosed and protected by suitable casingsor housings and which also enclose the driving motor for the apparatus(not shown herein). The mechanism by which the continuous strip or webis advanced to the severing or bursting station and tensioned is locatedbetween the side plates 10.

As disclosed in said Patent 2,380,949 the driving motor is operativelyconnected to one end of the upper bursting roller shaft 11 beyond oneend of the side plates and which shaft is rotatably mounted in suitablebearings in both side plates 10. The opposite end of the shaft 11 beyondthe other side plate has fixed thereto a pinion which meshes with thelarger of a pair of different size idler gears mounted on one end of theupper snubbing roller shaft 12 which is rotatably supported by the sideplates 10.

The shaft 12 on its opposite end mounts a pair of pinions one of whichmeshes with an idler gear that in turn meshes with a gear fixed on thecam shaft 13 which is journaled in the side plates 10. The other pinionof the pair of pinions on the shaft 12 meshes with a gear on the feedmechanism and lower snubbing roller on shaft 14 and said shaft 14 isjournaled in rocker arms later to be referred to. It will be understoodthat the ratios of the several gears in the drive trains to the shafts11 and 12 are such that the shaft 12 is driven at a constant speedmaterially less than that of the shaft 11.

Also it will be understood that by the use of interchangeable gears thedrive to the cam shaft 13 can be selected to effect faster or slowerrotation of the cam shaft and which, of course, will cause a change inthe timing of the swinging or oscillating movements imparted to therocker arms later to be referred to.

In view of the complete disclosure of the drives to the shafts 11, 12,13 and 14 in said Davidson Patent 2,380,949, it is felt unnecessary toillustrate or to further explain the same herein since reference can behad to the disclosure of said patent.

The cam shaft 13 rotates counterclockwise while the feed and lowersnubbing roller shaft 14 rotates clockwise and is driven at a constantspeed correlated to the particular speed of the cam shaft 13 so as toeffect cyclic operation of the cam assembly on the cam shaft (later tobe described) in accordance with the particular lengths of the stripportions which are to be severed or bursted from the continuous strip orweb.

The feed shaft 14 mounts a pair of pinwheels 15 and which wheels rotatewith the shaft 14 and are relatively adjustable axially of said shaftand are provided on their circumferences with the usual circularlyspaced radially extending pins 16. The pinwheels 15 constitute therotary positive feeding elements of the feeding mechanism of theapparatus and the pins 16 thereof progressively engage in thelongitudinally spaced perforations 17 in the side margins of thecontinuous strip or web 18 (later to be described) which is drawn by thewheels from a supply compartment and passes over and is guided by asuitable guiding surface and then extends partially about the peripheryof the pinwheels 15.

The guiding surface over which the strip 18 passes is formed on the arm19 which also mounts a finger 20 that overhangs the pinwheels andmaintains the web or strip 18 in engagement with the peripheries of thepinwheels and with the pins 16 extending through the perforations 17 ofthe strip. The finger 20 is bifurcated to provide clearance for therotating pins 16. The arm 19 is mounted on and secured to a tie rod 21.

The feed shaft 14 intermediate the pinwheels 15 mounts a plurality ofaxially spaced rollers 22 which are adapted to cooperate with similarrollers 23 on the shaft 12. The rollers 22 and 23 may be termed thelower and upper feed or snubbing rollers, respectively. and preferablyare formed of rubber or similar material so as to have the necessaryfriction. These rollers, as will later be explained, intermittentlyengage or grip the continuous strip or web 18 beyond the point where theperforated marginal portions thereof have been detached from the strip.

As already stated, the side plates 10 journal the shafts 11, 12 and 13.The feed shaft 14 is journaled in a pair of rocker arms 24 locatedadjacent the side plates 10 and which are mounted on a rock shaft 25parallel to shafts 11, 12, 13 and 14 and journaled in adjustableeccentric bushings or bearing sleeves carried by the side plates 10.This enables the rocker arms 24 to be adjusted in the direction of stripfeeding movement and also vertically to vary the engaging force when theupper and lower snubbing and snatching rollers are brought into contact.The means for imparting such adjustments to the rock shaft 25 and rockerarms 24 is clearly shown in Fig. 7 of said Davidson Patent 2,380,949.

The rocker arms 24 rotatably support an idler shaft 26 which carries thelower snatching or bursting roll 27 that cooperates with the uppersnatching rollers 28 on the shaft 11. The roll 27 and rollers 28 aresimilar to the rollers 22 and 23 on the shafts 14 and 12, respectively,which, as previously stated, are the lower and upper snubbing or feedrollers. It will be understood that the snatching rollers 28 are drivenat an accelerated speed with respect to the snubbing or feed rollers 22and 23. The rocker arms 24 are raised and lowered in intervals ofprcdetermined timing during the cycle of operation of feeding movementby the cam assembly later to be referred to and such movement of therocker arms alternately brings the lower rollers 22 and roll 27 intocooperating relationship with the upper rollers 23 and 28, respectively,then separates said cooperating rollers for a purpose which will laterbecome evident.. The interconnected rocker arms 24 may be termedarockablle carrier.

As in said Davidson Patent 2,380,949 the trimming. assemblies 29 aremounted onthe rocker shaft. 251 for axial adjustment thereon and alsofor relative rotation with respect to said rock shaft so as to move theassemblies to an inoperative position when desired;

In the present apparatus one of the trimming assemblies i. e., the righthand. one as shown in the drawing, is provided with: the usual trimmingdisk 30. which bears against the hardened collar 31,. see Fig. 3., Theother trimming assembly i. e.,. the assembly on the left side of theapparatus is somewhat different in that it is provided with a diskhavingv a flat surface instead of a trimming disk such as the disk 3%that has a sharp edge for slitting purposes.

The left hand trimming assembly is not shown in the drawings and thereason it differs from the right hand trimming assembly is because ofthe particular make-up of the continuous strip or web that isillustrated herein and which will. be more fully explained hereinafter.At the present it should suffice to say that the two perforatedlongitudinal marginal edges of the continuous strip which may be termedthe traction or feeding margins of'the strip are separated from thestrip by the trimming mechanism as the strip is positively driven by thepinwheels 15' and just prior to the strip passing between the rollers22' and 23. The separated traction margins. of the strip are removedfrom the strip and apparatus as scrap and are guided into a receivingtray 52 by a stripper'member 33 which prevents the detached tractionmargins from moving in a circuitous path about the pinwheels.v Thestripper member 33 is axially adjustable in unison with the axialadjustment of the inwheels 15 along the rods 34' which support thestripping member. The rods 34 and also the rod 21, as well as the shafts14 and 26, are supported in the rocker arms 24 and move with said rockerwhen the latter are rockably oscillated. The rocker arms 24 on theirinner or adjacent sides have secured thereto journal blocks 35, seeFigs. 1 and 3, and which blocks rotatably support the idler shaft 26.

A supporting bar 36 is secured to the journal blocks 35 and is locatedintermediate the pinwheels. 15' and the lower snatching rollers 27 onthe idler shaft 26. The supporting bar 36 has attached to it tablesections or fingers 37 spaced longitudinally of the bar 3'6. These tablesections or fingers project from the bar toward the shaft 14 and areillustrated herein as being formed of spring metal and substantiallyV-shaped in cross section, with one arm overlying and engaging andparallel to the outer surface of the supporting bar 36 and having aninturned end clipping onto the supporting bar 36 while the other arm ofthe sections or fingers extends downwardly at an angle from the firstmentioned arm and at its lower end engages an angularly disposed portionof the supporting bar 36, see Fig. 1'.

The journal blocks 35 to the right of the idler shaft 26 and the lowersnatching roller 27, as viewed in Fig. 1', have fastened thereto aseparating assembly indicated generally at 38. The separating assembly38 includes an upper support 39 and a lower support 40', said supportsextending transversely of the apparatus intermediate the blocks 35 andhave their upper surfaces downwardly inclined for a reason later to beexplained, with the upper surface of the lower support 40 inclined at asteeper angle than the upper surface of the upper support 39;

The upper support 39 mounts a number-of extension fingers 41, saidfingers being spaced longitudinally of the upper support 39 andprojecting therefrom toward the roller 27 substantially in the plane ofthe upper side. of the upper support 39 and substantially tangentially'to the roller 27. The lower support 40 is provided on its upper surfacewith a relatively wide extension plate 42 which is located centrally ofthe apparatus and extends longitudinally of the lower support 40. Theextension plate 42 'has'its upper or free end curved upwardly asclearlyshown in Fig. l and said free end of the extension plate is locat'ed incloser proximity to the circumference of' the roller 27 than is the freeend of the extension fingers 41.

To the right. of the upper and lower supports 39 and 40 as viewed inFig. l, are located an upper tray 43 for sequentially receiving andstacking the severed or bursted cards or form portions and a lower tray44 for receiving the dividing or separating portions severed from thecontinuous strip or web; The upper tray 43 at its left hand edgeincludes an intermediate upwardly inclined portion 45 composed of twoangularly disposed sections. The upwardly inclined portion 45 of thetray 43 is provided with a plurality of fingers 46 spaced transverselyof the apparatus and extending toward and into close proximity to theupper support 39 and overlying the cutaway upper edge of the upwardlyinclined portion 45. The lower tray 44' includes an' upwardly extendingportion 47, the upper or free edge of which underlies the lower edge ofthe lower support 40 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The upper and lowertrays 43' and 44 are maintained in properly' spaced relationship bymeans of brackets 48 which cooperate with headed studs 49 secured to theside plates 10'. The trays 43 and 44 accordingly can be readily removedor mounted in the apparatus, thus facilitating the servicing or repairof the apparatus. The upper tray 43 adjustably mounts a stop bar 50against which the severed cards or forms strike when projected into thetray as will later be described. The stop bar 50 is provided with aseries of upwardly extending stop fingers 51 spaced Iongi'iiud-inally ofthestop bar and acting to guide the severed cards into the tray 43.

As shown: in Figs. 1 and 3; the right hand rocker arm 24, as. viewed insaid figures; mounts a stud 52 which projects inwardly from: the innerside of the rocker arm and this stud rotat'ably mounts a cam followerroller 53 that cooperates with a cam assembly on the cam shaft 13' andindicated generally at 54. The cam assembly 54 is so designated that therocker arm 24- will be raised and lowered twice during each completerevolution of the cam shaft 13. In other words, during each completerevolution of the cam shaft 13 and each feeding cycle of the apparatusthe lower rollers 22 and 27' will be moved twice into engagement withthe upper rollers 23 and: 28 v respectively, and away from suchengagement. This isaccomplished by providing the cam assembly with two'angularly spaced camming lobes that engage the cam: follower roller 53to twice raise the rocker arms 24-and then allow' the same to movedownwardly during each complete rotation of the cam shaft.

The cam= assembly 54' shown in Pig. 6 has its two camming lobes arrangeddiametrically opposite each other so that equal time intervals occurbetween the engagement of each cam lobe with the cam follower roller53-. The cam assembly is formed of two interconnected sectionsindicatedvgenerally at 55 and 56. The camsection 55' may be termed the stationarysection since it is not movable axially of the cam shaft 13 and is fixedrelative to the section 56 which latter section may be termed thefloating or movable cam section. The cam section 55 comprises a sleeve57 which has at one end a segmental collar or flange 58, the oppositeends of which present circularly spaced flats or shoulders 59. Thesleeve 57 is provided on its circumference with a cam lobe 61). Also thesleeve 57 is provided with a recess 61 that is the length of the sleeveand also extends circularly thereof but islocated in circumferentiallyspaced relationship to the cam lobe 60. The cam section 55 is mounted onthe cam shaft 13 and is fixed thereto for rotation therewith but is heldagainst axial movement so that thecam lobe 60' will be in position toengage with the cam follower roller 53.

The floating 0r movable cam section 56 comprises a collar 62 having aninternal diameter to fit the cam shaft 16 and corresponding to theinternal diameter of the bore in the sleeve 57. The collar 62 isprovided with an axially extending segmental portion 63 which at itsopposite circularly spaced ends presents flats or shoulders 64. Theouter end of the segmental portion 63 is provided with an axiallyprojecting cam lobe 65. When the cam sections and 56 are coupledtogether on the cam shaft 13 the segmental collar or flange 58 of thesection 55 complements the segmental portion 63 of the cam section 56 toform therewith a continuous circular sleeve with the flats or shoulders59 on the collar or flange 58 bearing against the flats or shoulders 64on the segmental portion 63.

The cam lobe 65 of the cam section 56 will when the two cam sections areassembled on the shaft 13 extend into the recess 61 of the sleeve 57 andbear against said sleeve. The cam lobes and are formed so that when thecam sections are coupled together said cam lobes will have identicallifting effect on the cam follower roller 53 and the rockable carrier towhich it is attached. The collar 58 of the cam section 55 is providedwith a radial opening 66 which when the section 55 is mounted on the camshaft 13 aligns with a diametrally extending opening in the cam shaft.When the cam section 56 is assembled on the cam shaft 13 and coupled tothe cam section 55 the segmental portion 63 of the section 56 is solocated that a radial opening 67 therein aligns with the diametralopening just referred to in the shaft 13. Consequently a key pin can bepassed through the opening 66 in the cam section 55 through thediametral opening in the cam shaft 13 and into the opening 67 in the camsection 56 to lock said cam sections to the shaft 13 and in coupledrelationship to each other. The key pin may be backed up by a headedscrew 68 screwed into the opening 66 as shown in Fig. 5.

Assuming the cam sections 55 and 56 of Fig. 6 are secured on the camshaft 13 and are coupled together, it will be seen that equal timeintervals occur between the engagement of the cam lobe 60 with the camfollower roller 53 and the engagement of the cam lobe 65 therewith sincesaid lobes are diametrically opposed.

The continuous strip 18 for which the apparatus illustrated is adaptedto function is shown in Fig. 4. As already stated, the longitudinal sidemargins 69 of the strip are each provided with a series oflongitudinally spaced openings 17 for feeding cooperation with the pins16 of the pinwheels 15. The continuous strip 18 is formed of alternatingdividing portions 70 of relatively short length and card portions 71 ofrelatively long length. Separating the dividing portions 70 from thecard portions 71 are preweakened transversely extending lines ofseverance 72. These lines of severance 72 extend between thelongitudinally extending preweakened line 73 near the left side of Fig.4 and the longitudinally extending preweakened line 74 near the right ofFig. 4. The preweakened lines 73 and 74 interconnect the longitudinalside margins 69 of the strip with the dividing portions 7t and the cardportions 71. The card portions 71 include a stub 75 integrally attachedto the main card portion 71 by a longitudinally extending series ofconfigurations 76, Wherefore the stubs 75 can be folded over on thecards 71. Herein wherever card portions 71 are referred to it will beunderstood that they include in addition to the main card the stubs 75.

The continuous strip illustrated herein and just described is formed ofcommercially marketed record cards or forms connected together incontinuous series in an overlapping arrangement. However, it is believedthat sufficient details of the continuous strip have been shown anddescribed herein to enable a complete and clear description to be setforth of the advantages incident to the apparatus embodying theinvention and the manner or mode in which it functions to sever or burstfrom the continuous strip two portions during each complete rotation ofthe cam shaft and which portions may be of unequal length or of equallength.

In order to coordinate the description thus far set forth and to clearlybring out the manner in which the apparatus functions a rsurn of itsoperation will now be given.

It will be assumed that the cam shaft 13 rotates at a faster speed thandoes the feed shaft 14 and that the ratio between the speeds of rotationof the cam shaft 13 and feed shaft 14 is such that the cam shaft makes acomplete revolution when the feed shaft has made a partial revolutionthat advances the web one form length. A form length is the distancebetween the leading edge of the leading dividing strip portion 70 of theweb and the division line 72 which separates the following card portion71 of the web from the next dividing strip portion thereof.

Even though the cam lobes 6t) and 65 of the cam assembly 54 arediametrically opposed they can be utilized to effect bursting of therelatively short dividing strip portions 70 and of the relatively longcard portions 71 of the web. This is accomplished by utilizing the lastpart only of one cam lobe for dividing strip snatching or bursting andthe entire camming surface of the other cam lobe for card snatching orbursting. In addition, the rocker arms 24 are adjusted by adjusting therock shaft 25 so as to move the lower snubbing rollers 22 and thesnatching roll 27 forwardly in the direction of web feeding to changethe point of contact between the upper and lower snubbing rollers andbetween the upper snatching rollers and the lower snatching roll. Alsothe rocker arms are adjusted so that the lower rollers will be broughtinto contact with the upper rollers with sufiicient pressure to compressthe material of the rollers and thus extend the area of contact betweenthe rollers from a line contact to a surface contact on each side oftheir theoretical line of tangency.

In order to clearly bring out the manner in which the diametricallyopposed cam lobes can function to effect bursting or severing of stripportions of unequal length it is thought necessary to give a specificexample utilizing the actual dimension of a single form of the web, i.e., the length of a dividing strip portion and a card portion. It may beassumed that a form length is 3 /2 inches, that is the measurementbetween the leading edge of the leading dividing strip portion 70 andthe preweakened division line 72 separating the following card portion71 from the following dividing strip portion 70. The dividing tripportions are A inch and the card portions are 3% inches in length. Itmay also be assumed that the pinwheels 15 have a circumference of 5 /2inches and carry eleven equally circularly spaced pins 16 so that foreach rotation of the feed shaft 14 the web is fed forwardly 5 /2 inches.However, the diametrically opposed cam lobes 60 and 65 of the camassembly 54 must both operate to raise the rocker arms during thefeeding of a form length of the web, namely, during a form feeding cycleof 3 /2 inches. This means, of course, that the cam shaft 13 makes acomplete revolution for each partial revolution of the feed shaft 14which in the illustration would be for each revolution of the feedshaft. This ratio between the speed of rotation of the feed shaft and ofthe cam shaft can be readily obtained by the use of suitableconventional gears in the drive trains to these shaft as will beunderstood from the disclosure of said Davidson Patent 2,380,949.

It may further be assumed and understood that in the particular examplethe centers of shafts 11 and 12 as well as the centers of shafts 14 and26 are spaced apart 2 /2 inches. It may be assumed that the Web 13 hasbeen positioned on the pinwheel 15 so that the leading edge of theleading dividing strip portion and which constitutes the leading edge ofthe first form is spaced beyond the point of tangency between thesnubbing rollers in the feeding direction, that is toward the right asviewed in Fig. 1'. Likewise, the preweakeneddivisiom line-72 between theleading dividing strip portion 70 and the following card portion 71 ofthe web should be'su-bstantially at the point of tangency. The locationof theleading edge of the leading dividing strip= portion 70,. i. e.,the leading edge of the first form, may be assumed to be one-fourth inchbeyond the point of tangency of the web with respect to the pinwheclsand'lower snubbing rollers 22; since the length of. this portion isone-fourth inch; The cam shaft 13 is now adjusted independently of thefeed shaft 14 until the cam loh'e 65; for instance, is in thepositionjust after it leaves contact with! the follower 58 as indicatedin Fig.- l. Atthis time the rocker arms are in their lower positionandthe' upper and lower snubbing and snatching rollers are separated.Now assuming: the cam: shaft and feedishaft' are again operativelycorrelated and that the apparatus is placed in operation, the web willhave been fed forwardly by the pinwheel's 1% inches by the time the camlobe: 60' contacts the follower 53. This means that: the leading edge ofthe leading dividing strip portion 70 is nowtwo inches beyond the: pointof tangency' between the web and the snubbing rollers. Since thecenters-of the shafts 11 and'12 and of theshafts 26 and 14 are spacedapart 2 /2 inches, itwill be evident that the leading edge of theleading dividing strip portion 70 is still one-half inchfrom thesnatching grip location between the snatching rollers 28 and roll 27. Aportion of this one-halfinch discrepancy may be compcnsated for byadjusting the rock shaft'ZS tomove the rock armsinthe'directionof webfec'ding a slight amount soas to move the leading edge of the leadingdividing strip portion closer tethesnatching point. Also-thc-rock shaft25 may be adjusted to change the vertical axis of rocking movement ofthe rocker arms 24 so that the lower snubbing and snatching rollers,when engaged with their cooperating upper rol'lcrs'will' exertsufficient pressure thereon so the rollers. are compressedtthuswidening. the zone of contact. betweentherollers, wherefore thesnatching rollers will have snatching contact with each other a slightdistance on each side of the theoretical line contact between thesnatching rollers.

It will be recalled that the snubbing and snatching rollers are formedof rubber or other compressible material and hence readily function towiden the area of contact between the rollers when the rollers arepressed together. This widening of the contact between the rollerscompensates additionally to take up part of the one-half inchdiscrepancy between the leading edge of the leading dividing stripportion and the snatching point. Also at the time the cam lobe 60 firstengages the follower 53 the leading edge of the leading dividing stripportion 70 has not yet reached the snatching point and even though thecam lobe 60 raises the rocker arms to engage the coopcrating snubbingand snatching rollers, the feeding movement continues during the majorportion of the action of the cam lobe 60 on the follower until theleading edge of the leading dividing strip portion has reached thesnatching point. This occurs near the end of the engagement of the camlobe 60 with the follower. In other Words, feeding continues during themajor part of the engagement of the cam lobe 60 with the follower 53 andit is only near the end of such engagement that the snatching actionoccurs with respect to the dividing strip portion. At this time thefol-lowing card portion 71 is gripped by the snubbing rollers and only abrief snatching action is needed by the snatching rollers to detach theleading dividing strip portion 70 from the following card portion 71. Asthis occurs the cam lobe 60 passes out of contact with the follower 53and the rocker arms drop down and the snubbing and snatching rollers areseparated, whereupon the detached or severed dividing strip portion 70falls by gravity into the tray 44. The operation of the mechanismcontinuing the leading edge of the following card portion of the webadvances between the separated snatching rollers 1% inches before thecam lobe firstengagesthefollower 53. This means that a substantial partof the forward end of the following card portion 71 overlies... andrests. uponthe extension fingers 41 of the upper support 39 before thesnatching action commences. When the cam lobe 65 first contacts thefollower 5-3 the feeding movement of the web has advanced: the followingcard portion 71 in the manner stated and also has brought the followingdividing? strip portion 7 0 bct ween the snubbing rollers. but with itsleading edge that is connected to the card portion 71 by the preweakencdline 72 located in the feeding direction just beyond the point ofsnubbing contact between the snubbing rollers. The instant that thecamming lobe 65 has engaged the fol-lower 53 and has raised the rockerarms 24 the snatching action commencesand the card portion 71 is severedor bursted' from the following dividing strip portion that is now heldby the snubbing rolls. The continued engagementof the cam lobe 65 withthe follower 53 acts to feed the card portion 71- forwardly due to theaccelerated rotation ofthesnatchi-ng rollers and to provide thenecessary force to propel the card into the tray 43- for' stacking. Alsoduring the continued engagement of the camlobc 65 with the follower 53the following. dividing stripportion 70 has continued its feedingmovcment until its leading edge is /4- inchbeyond the snubbing point sothe operation may be repeated fora new form length. This mode ofoperation is repeated successively for thesucocedingform lengthsof theseries connected. web.

Althougha preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed herein: it will be understood that the inventionis susceptibleof various, modifications and adaptations within the scope of: theappended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we: claim:

1;. A strip severing or bursting apparatus including a pair of snatchingrollers and a relatively spaced pair of snubbing rollers, a rockabl'ecarrier= upon which one roller of each pair is mounted for simultaneousintermittent movement toward and from the other roller of the respectivepairs of rollers to momentarily grip therebetween a strip to be severed,a strip fccding means mounted upon the carrier and operative to advancethe strip relative to the rollers, driving means for imparting to thesnatching rollers peripheral speed greater than that of the snubbingrollers and to the feeding mcans a speed substantially equal to thespeed of the snubbing rollers and for rocking the carrier in timedsequence with the operation of the rollers and feeding means andincluding a cam follower on said carrier and a cam assembly having camlobes sequentially engaging said follower to effect multiple rocking ofsaid carrier during each complete cycle of operation of said camassembly.

2. A strip severing or bursting apparatus as defined in claim 1 andwherein said lobes of said cam assembly are so spaced as to provideequal time intervals between the rocking movements of the carrier ineach complete operative cycle of the assembly.

3. A strip severing or bursting apparatus as defined in claim 1 andwherein said cam assembly is rotatable.

4. A strip severing or bursting apparatus as defined in claim 1 andwherein said cam assembly is rotatable and said lobes are equally spacedapart 5. A strip severing or bursting apparatus as defined in claim 1and wherein said cam assembly is rotatable and includes a section thatis axially fixed and is provided with a cam lobe and a section that isaxially movable relative to the first-named section and is provided witha cam lobe, and means for operatively interconnecting said sections.

6. A strip severing or bursting apparatus as defined in claim 5 andwherein the cam lobes of the two sections of the cam assembly arediametrically opposed.

7. A strip severing or bursting apparatus as defined in claim 5 andwherein the axially fixed section of the cam assembly includes a sleeveprovided on its circumference with a cam lobe and with a recessangularly spaced from said cam lobe, said axially fixed section alsoincluding a segmental collar located at one end of said sleeve, saidother section of the cam assembly including a collar having an axiallyextending segmental portion adapted to cooperate with said segmentalcollar at the first section when the sections are interconnected, saidsegmental portion being provided with an axially extending cam lobeengaging in said recess of said sleeve of the first section when saidsections are interconnected.

8. A strip bursting apparatus for severing into separate portions acontinuous strip formed of a series of the portions longitudinallyarranged and interconnected by transverse weakened division lines, saidapparatus comprising an upper snubbing roller and an upper snatchingroller spaced therefrom with both of said rollers rotatable on fixedaxes, a carrier rockable on an axis parallel to the axes of saidrollers, a lower snubbing roller and a lower snatching roller spacedtherefrom and both rotatable on axes supported by said carrier andparallel to the rocking axis of said carrier, wherefore said lowerrollers will be moved by the rocking of the carrier into and out ofengagement with the upper rollers to cause a strip passing between theupper and lower rollers to be intermittently gripped thereby, a stripfeeding means rotatable on the axis of the lower snubbing roller, a camfollower supported by said carrier, a camshaft rotatable on a fixedaxis; means for driving said snubbing rollers, said feeding means andsaid camshaft at correlated speeds of rotation and for driving saidupper snatching roller at an accelerated speed of rotation relative tothe rotating speed of the snubbing roller, and a cam assembly on saidcamshaft and provided with angularly disposed lobes cooperating withsaid follower to rock said carrier and etfect multiple gripping of thestrip by the snubbing and snatching rollers and multiple severing ofportions from the strip during each complete rotation of said camassembly.

9. A strip bursting apparatus as defined in claim 8 and wherein thelobes of said cam assembly are two in number and are diametricallyopposed to each other to provide equal time intervals between thesequential engagements of the cam follower by said lobes.

10. A strip bursting apparatus as defined in claim 8 and wherein saidcam assembly includes two sections, one axially fixed on said camshaftand provided with one cam lobe and another section movable axially ofsaid camshaft and provided with one cam lobe, and means forinterconnecting said sections with said cam lobes arranged to move withthe assembly in the same circular path with one lobe following the otherlobe.

11. A bursting apparatus as defined in claim 10 and wherein the lobes ofthe two sections of the cam assembly are diametrically opposed.

12. A strip bursting apparatus as defined in claim 10 and wherein onesection of the cam assembly includes a sleeve provided on itscircumference with a cam lobe and with a recess spaced angularly fromsaid lobe, said sleeve also being provided at one end with a segmentalcollar, the other section of said cam assembly including a cylindricalcollar from which axially projects a segmental portion provided at itsfree end with an axially extending cam lobe, said first section havingits sleeve mounted on said camshaft and being axially fixed relative tosaid camshaft, said second section having its cylindrical collar mountedon said camshaft and its segmental portion cooperating with thesegmental collar of the first section and with the cam lobe of thesecond section engaging the sleeve of the first section and located inthe circumferential recess thereof and angularly disposed to the camlobe of the first section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

